Incinerator ash reducer



April 1962 c. R. VAN DER AUE 3,027,855

INCINERATOR ASH REDUCER Filed April 18, 1958 United States Patent ()fiice 3,027,855 Patented Apr. 3, 1962 3,027,855 INCINERATOR ASH REDUCER Charles R. Van Der Aue, St. Joseph, Mich, assignor to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 18, 1958, Ser. No. 729,358 2 Claims. ((11. 110165) This invention relates to ash detecting and treating means for use in burners such as incinerators and the like.

In burners such as automatic domestic incinerators and the like, it is necessary to remove ashes periodically to maintain proper operation of the device. As the amount of such ashes varies from time to time, the frequency of the ash removal requirement also may vary. Thus, it is desirable to provide a means for determining automatically the need for such removal.

Another problem with such burners is the relatively expanded nature of the ashes. Thus, a relatively large volume of such ashes may build up quickly, requiring frequent removal.

The principal feature of this invention is to provide a new and improved means for detecting the amount of ashes in a receiving means.

Another feature is the provision of such means adapted to reduce the volume of the ashes.

Other features and advantages of the invention Will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of of domestic incinerator, With a portion thereof broken away to show the installation of an ash detector and compactor embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged side elevation thereof, showing the ash receiving means in a partially withdrawn position; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section thereof showing the ash receiving means in different positions relative to the detecting and compacting means, as during a detecting and compacting operation.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a disclosed in the drawing, a domestic incinerator 14) comprises an outer housing 11 and a combustion chamber 12 having an open lower end 13 through which fall ashes from chamber 12. An ash pan 14 is positioned on a transverse bottom wall 15 of housing 11. Access to ash pan 14 is provided by a door 16 hinged to the housing adjacent the bottom 15 and provided with a handle 17. Ash pan 14 is provided with a handle 18 permitting withdrawal of the pan 14.

Means for ascertaining and reducing the volume of ashes in ash pan 14 comprising a roller 18 pivotally mounted on a fork 19 carried on the lower end of a rod 20. The upper end of rod 20 extends slidably through a pair of horizontal guide plates 22a of a bracket 22 secured to the Wall of combustion chamber 12. A coil spring 23 is compressed between a lower one of guide a plates 22a and fork 19 to urge roller 18 forcibly downwardly toward the bottom of ash pan 14. Thus, as seen in FIG. 3, roller 18 exerts a compacting force on the ashes A received in ash pan 14 when the ash pan is moved laterally relative to the roller. By applying a force of approximately six pounds to the roller, approximately ten movements of the ash pan back and forth compress ashes, such as from normal incinerated garbage, approximately sixty-five percent,

T o facilitate the removal and insertion of ash pan 14, the rear wall 21 thereof is slanted at approximately a forty-five degree angle, permitting the rear wall to be passed readily under roller 18 during a withdrawing or installing operation as shown in FIG. 2. To further facilitate the installing and removing of the ash pan, the rear wall may be made slightly shorter than the other upstanding walls 21a of the ash pan, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The vertical displacement of roller 18 is a function of the volume of ashes received in ash pan 14. Thus, the vertical displacement may be utilized to provide an indication of the ash volume in the ash pan. Illustratively, a microswitch 24 may be fixed to the housing 11 to have an actuating lever 25 co-operate with an arm 26 fixed on fork 19 to actuate the microswitch when the roller 18 is displaced vertically a predetermined distance above the bottom of the ash pan. Switch 24 may be connected to a suitable indicating means such as a lamp 27 visible at the front of the housing 11 to indicate the Presence of a predetermined maximum volume of ashes in the ash pan.

In utilizing the instant invention, the operator effects a backward and forward movement of the ash pan on bottom 15 of housing 11. This is readily accomplished by opening the access door 16 and manipulating the ash pan by means of handle 18. The backward and forward movement of the ash pan permits the spring urged roller 18 to compact the ashes and to indicate, when present, a predetermined maximum volume of ashes, by the upward vertical displacement of the roller during the compacting operation. To remove the loaded ash pan, when desired, the ash pan is drawn frowardly through the access door opening. When the ash pan has been moved forwardly sufliciently to cause rear wall 21 to underlie roller 18, the ash pan is tilted upwardly, as seen in FIG. 2, causing engagement of rear wall 21 with bottom 15 of the housing and allowing the ash pan to be moved sufficiently forward to clear the ash pan from under the roller. The compacted ashes may now be disposed of as desired. To reinstall the ash pan, a reverse operation is efiected. Thus, the ash pan is inserted in the inclined disposition of FIG. 2 until rear wall 21 has passed sufficiently under and beyond roller 18 to permit the ash pan to be arranged in the horizontal disposition of FIG. 1 below end 13 of the combustion chamber 12, with roller 18 disposed adjacent the front end thereof.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Ash volume reducing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving ashes; a roller; means mounting said roller in said receiving means for upward movement relative to said receiving means; means for effecting a transverse movement of the receiving means relative to said roller to effect a traverse of the receiving means by the roller while permitting said upward movement of said roller relative to said receiving means as a result of the presence of ashes in said receiving means; and supplemental force exerting means in addition to said roller for urging said roller against the ashes in said receiving means to pro vide a compacting of the ashes in the receiving means during said traverse.

2. Ash volume reducing apparatus, comprising: means for receiving ashes; a roller; means mounting said roller in said receiving means for upward movement relative to said receiving means; means for effecting a transverse movement of the receiving means relative to said roller to effect a traverse of the receiving means by the roller while permitting said upward movement of said roller relative to said receiving means as a result of the presence of ashes in said receiving means; and means for indicating exteriorly of said receiving mean the amount of relative upward movement of said roller to indicate a need 3 4 to withdraw the receiving means for dumping the ashes 2,375,276 Brown May 2, 1945 therefrom. 2,446,669 Satchik Aug, 10, 1948 2,499,600 Meinzer Mar. 7, 1950 References Cnted m the file of th1s patent 2,685,116 Schutt Aug. 3 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 2,845,882 Bratton Aug. 5, 195

1,672,938 Hervey June 12, 1928 2,862,463 Duncan Dec. 2, 1958 

